Foldable cover

ABSTRACT

A foldable cover for protecting or supporting a portable electronic device is provided. The foldable cover comprises a supporting unit and a fixing unit. The supporting unit comprises a plurality of first separations, a convergent part and a plurality of first slab-shaped parts. Each first separation is connected to the convergent part. The fixing unit is connected to the supporting unit to fix the portable electronic device. When the first slab-shaped parts are located at the same surface, the supporting unit covers the portable electronic device. When a three dimensional structure is formed by the first separations, the convergent part and the first slab-shaped parts, the supporting unit supports the portable electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefits of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/525,172, filed on Aug. 18, 2011. The entirety ofthe above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated byreference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a foldable cover, and in particular, to afoldable cover adapted to protect or support a portable electronicdevice.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable electronic devices are suitable to be carried by a user.However, a portable electronic device may be damaged due to be bumped orhit, or wear down the outer casing, when being carried. In order toavoid damage, a protective cover is generally used to cover the portableelectronic device for protection.

In addition, when viewing some information on a portable electronicdevice such as a tablet PC, the portable electronic device is usuallydisposed on a supporter with a suitable angle for the user to use. Thus,not only a protective cover is required, but also a supporter, thus toimprove the convenience while using. However, buying and carryingmultiple items is a burden for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provides a foldable cover, adapted to protect or supporta portable electronic device. The foldable cover comprises a supportingunit and a fixing unit. The supporting unit comprises a plurality offirst separations, a convergent part, and a plurality of firstslab-shaped parts, wherein each first separation is connected to theconvergent part.

The fixing unit is connected to the supporting unit, so as to fix theportable electronic device. When the first slab-shaped parts are locatedon the same surface, the supporting unit covers the portable electronicdevice. When a three dimensional structure is formed by the firstseparations, the convergent part, and the first slab-shaped parts, thesupporting unit supports the portable electronic device.

Based on the three dimensional structure, the foldable cover of thedisclosure not only protects the portable electronic device, but canalso conveniently turn into a support frame to support the portableelectronic device. In addition, the foldable cover of the disclosure canbe placed in any directions so as to provide multiple angles to supportthe portable electronic device.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages ofthe disclosure more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures aredescribed in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings constituting a part of this specification areincorporated herein to provide a further understanding of thedisclosure. Here, the drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosureand, together with the description, serve to explain the principles ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 1A is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a firstembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of the foldable cover of FIG. 1Acovering a portable electronic device.

FIG. 1C is a three dimensional schematic view of the foldable cover ofFIG. 1A that is folded.

FIG. 1D to FIG. 1F are three dimensional schematic views of the foldablecover of FIG. 1A deforming to support the portable electronic device.

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a secondembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a thirdembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a three dimensional schematic view of the foldable cover ofFIG. 3A deforming to support the portable electronic device.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a fourthembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a fifthembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6A is a three dimensional schematic view illustrating a foldablecover according to a sixth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional schematic view of the foldable cover alongline A-A in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a three dimensional schematic view of the foldable cover ofFIG. 6A that is folded.

FIG. 6D to FIG. 6F are three dimensional schematic views of the foldablecover of FIG. 6A deforming to support the portable electronic device.

FIG. 7A is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to aseventh embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7B is a three dimensional schematic view of a supporting unit ofthe FIG. 7A that is folded and deformed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The disclosure provides a foldable cover 100, adapted to protect orsupport a portable electronic device 10. FIG. 1A is a top viewillustrating a foldable cover according to a first embodiment of thedisclosure. The foldable cover 100 of the embodiment comprises asupporting unit 110, a fixing unit 120, and a connection member 130. Theconnection member 130 is connected between the supporting unit 110 andthe fixing unit 120.

In the embodiment, the connection member 130 is a flexible element.However, in other embodiments, the connection member 130 can be amagnetic element or a locking element. The type of the connection member130 is not limited thereto.

The supporting unit 110 comprises a plurality of first separations 112,a convergent part 114, and a plurality of first slab-shaped parts 116.Each of the first separations 112 is connected to the convergent part114, and respectively partitions two adjacent first slab-shaped parts116. The first slab-shaped parts 116 can be connected to each otherthrough various connecting methods. In the embodiment, two adjacentfirst slab-shaped parts 116 respectively include a fixing portion 116 a.Two fixing portions 116 a are fixed through a magnetic attraction, sothat the supporting unit 110 forms a three dimensional structure so asto support the portable electronic device 10.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the shape of the supporting unit 110 is arectangle, with two long sides and two short sides. The shapes of thefirst slab-shaped parts 116 are triangles. In the embodiment, theconvergent part 114 is located on a perpendicular bisector of the longside of the supporting unit 110. One of the first separations 112 issimultaneously located on the perpendicular bisector. Of course, theshape of the supporting unit 110 and the first slab-shaped parts 116,and the location of the convergent part 114 are not limited thereto.

The fixing unit 120 is used to place and fix the portable electronicdevice 10. The portable electronic device 10 can be locked to the edgeof the fixing unit 120. In an embodiment, the edge of the fixing unit120 is flexible. The portable electronic device 10 can be fixed to orseparated from the fixing unit 120 by simply bending the portion thatlocks the fixing unit 120 and the portable electronic device 10. Herein,the other fixing methods of the embodiment are omitted. One skilled inthe art can use other fixing methods without departing from the scope ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of the foldable cover of FIG. 1Acovering a portable electronic device. As shown in FIG. 1B, when thefoldable cover 100 of the embodiment protects the portable electronicdevice 10, the portable electronic device 10 is placed in the fixingunit 120, and the supporting unit 110 covers the portable electronicdevice 10. At this point, each first slab-shaped part 116 is located onthe same surface.

FIG. 1C is a three dimensional schematic view of the foldable cover ofFIG. 1A that is folded. FIG. 1D to FIG. 1F are three dimensionalschematic views of the foldable cover of FIG. 1A deforming to supportthe portable electronic device. As shown in FIG. 1C, the firstseparation 112 is bent along two adjacent fixing portions 116 a on thesupporting unit 110, so that the two adjacent fixing portions 116 a leanagainst each other.

After the two fixing portions 116 a are combined, the supporting unit110 forms a three dimensional structure (as shown in FIG. 1D), so as tosupport the portable electronic device 10. In the embodiment, the threedimensional structure that is formed after the supporting unit 110 ofthe foldable cover 100 is deformed is a pyramid.

As shown in FIG. 1D to FIG. 1F, the supporting unit 110 can form apyramid to support the portable electronic device 10 so that the usercan place the portable electronic device 10 vertically or horizontallyonto a table. Since the pyramid that the supporting unit 110 forms afterbeing deformed is not an equilateral pyramid, thus, when different sidesof the pyramid with different shapes are placed on the table, theportable electronic device 10 of the fixing unit 120 will prop againstthe pyramid at different angles.

In the embodiment, two fixing portions 116 a are magnetic. When twofixing portions 116 a of two first slab-shaped parts 116 are leanedagainst each other, the two fixing portions 116 a will be fixed to eachother through attraction, to maintain the pyramid shape. Of course, thefixing parts 116 a can also be locked or adhered together, and themethod for fixing the fixing parts 116 a is not limited thereto.

In addition, since the fixing unit 120 is connected to the supportingunit 110 through the connection member 130, when the supporting unit 110forms a three dimensional structure, the fixing unit 120 can leanagainst the surface of the three dimensional structure. Thus, regardlessof whether the foldable cover 100 is used to protect or support theportable electronic device 10, the portable electronic device 10 doesnot need to be removed from the fixing unit 120.

When the foldable cover 100 is used to support the portable electronicdevice 10, the connection member 130 is bent at different portions toadjust the angle of the portable electronic device (FIG. 1D to FIG. 1E)or the position between the three dimensional structure and the portableelectronic device 10 (FIG. 1F), so that the three dimensional structureis closer to the center of the portable electronic device 10.

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a secondembodiment of the disclosure. The only difference between the embodimentof FIG. 2 and the embodiment of FIG. 1 is the type of the fixing unit.As seen in FIG. 2, the fixing unit 220 of the foldable cover 200 of theembodiment comprises an inner surface 222 and an outer surface 224.

The inner surface 222 comprises an inner edge 222 a, and three outeredges 222 b. The inner edge 222 a of the inner surface 222 close to thesupporting unit 210 is not connected to the outer surface 224, and theother three outer edges 222 b are flexibly connected to the outersurface 224. The shape of the inner surface 222 is a hollow rectangle,and the material of the inner surface 222 is a soft material, such asleather.

When the portable electronic device 10 is put in or taken out of thefixing unit 220, the inner edge 222 a of the inner surface 222 of thefixing unit 220 is pulled away from the outer surface 224 of the fixingunit 220. The inner surface 222 will slightly deform so that theportable electronic device 10 can be put in or taken out of the fixingunit 220. When the portable electronic device 10 is located in thefixing unit 220, the portable electronic device 10 is clamped betweenthe inner surface 222 and the outer surface 224 of the fixing unit 220so that it will not fall out.

FIG. 3A is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a thirdembodiment of the disclosure. As seen in FIG. 3A, the difference betweenthe foldable cover 300 of the embodiment and the foldable cover 100 ofFIG. 1A is that the supporting unit 310 of the embodiment furthercomprises two second slab-shaped parts 317 and a pair of secondseparations 318. An end of each of the two second separations 318 areconnected to each other. The two separations 318 separate parts of thesupporting unit 310, so as to divide out two second slab-shaped parts317.

FIG. 3B is a three dimensional schematic view of the foldable cover ofFIG. 3A deforming to support the portable electronic device. As seen inFIG. 3B, the bending along the second separations 318 cause the twoslab-shaped parts 317 to be located on different surfaces. This way, thecenter of gravity of the three dimensional structure that is formed bythe supporting unit 310 is moved, so as to increase the stability of thethree dimensional structure, or to adjust the angle of the portableelectronic device 10. Of course, the supporting unit 310 can alsoinclude a plurality of pairs of second separations 318, so as to satisfydifferent user requirements.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a fourthembodiment of the disclosure. As seen in FIG. 4, the supporting unit 310of the foldable cover 400 of the embodiment provides another type ofdistribution of the first separations 412, the convergent part 414, andthe first slab-shaped parts 416.

In the embodiment, the shape of the supporting unit 410 is a rectangle,with two long sides and two short sides. The convergent part 414 islocated on a perpendicular bisector of the short side of the supportingunit 110. One of the first separations 412 is simultaneously located onthe perpendicular bisector. It can be seen from the embodiment and theembodiment of FIG. 1A that the alignment and length of the firstseparations 412, 112 and the shape of the first slab-shaped parts 416,116, are different based on the different positions of the convergentparts 414, 114.

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to a fifthembodiment of the disclosure. As seen in FIG. 5, the supporting unit 510of the foldable cover 500 of the embodiment comprises a plurality offirst separations 512, a convergent part 514, a plurality of firstslab-shaped parts 516, two second slab-shaped parts 517, and a pair ofsecond separations 518.

Each of the first separations 512 is connected to the convergent part514, and partitions the first slab-shaped parts 516. An end of the twosecond separations 518 respectively connect to each other, and twosecond slab-shaped parts 517 are partitioned by two second separations518. Bending along the second separations 518 can cause two sides of thetwo slab-shaped parts 517 to be located on different surfaces. This way,the center of gravity of the three dimensional structure that is formedby the supporting unit 510 is moved, so as to increase the stability ofthe three dimensional structure.

In addition, the fixing unit of the foldable cover 500 of the embodimentfurther comprises a first locking assembly 540. The first lockingassembly 540 is flexibly connected to the supporting unit 510. Theportable electronic device 10 comprises a second locking assembly 11,wherein the first locking assembly 540 is used to lock to the secondlocking assembly 11. When using the foldable cover 500 of the embodimentto protect the portable electronic device 10, the supporting unit 510 ofthe embodiment covers a face of the portable electronic device 10 byrotating about the first locking assembly 540 as the rotation axis. Forexample, the supporting unit 510 can cover the screen of the portableelectronic device 10, so as to lower the chance of scratching thescreen.

The portable electronic device 10 usually comprises a transmissioninterface 12, so as to transmit data or power. When the using thefoldable cover 500 of the embodiment to support the portable electronicdevice 10, in order to use the portable electronic device 10 at the sametime, and perform data transmission or power charging, the lockingassembly 540 of the embodiment comprises a first through hole 542.

The supporting unit 510 further comprises a second through hole 519. Thefirst through hole 542 connects through the second through hole 519.When the foldable cover 500 is connected to the portable electronicdevice 10, the transmission interface 12 is exposed by the first throughhole and the second through hole, so that external apparatuses can passthrough the first through hole 542 and the second through hole 519 toconnect to the transmission interface 12.

FIG. 6A is a three dimensional schematic view illustrating a foldablecover according to a sixth embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 6B is across-sectional schematic view of the foldable cover along line A-A inFIG. 6A. In the embodiment, the supporting unit 610 and the fixing unit620 form a cover body. The fixing unit 620 is made of soft material,such as cloth or leather, and can bend with the supporting unit 610.When the foldable cover 600 is used to protect the portable electronicdevice 10, the portable electronic device 10 is located between thesupporting unit 610 and the fixing unit 620.

The foldable cover 600 further comprises a first extension element 650and a second extension element 660. The first extension element 650 isflexibly connected to one of the fixing unit 620 or the supporting unit610. The second extension element 660 is flexibly connected to thefixing unit 620 or the supporting unit 610 not connected to the firstextension element 650.

In the embodiment, the first extension element 650 is connected to thefixing element 620, and the second extension element 660 is connected tothe supporting element 610. The first extension element 650 is movablyfixed to the second extension element 660, so that the portableelectronic device 10 is restricted between the supporting element 610and the fixing element 620.

In addition, the supporting unit 610 respectively comprises a pluralityof first separations 612, a convergent part 614, a plurality of firstslab-shaped parts 616, two second slab-shaped parts 617, and a pair ofsecond separations 618. Each of the first separations 612 is connectedto the convergent part 614, and can partition two adjacent firstslab-shaped parts 616. In these first slab-shaped parts 616, twoadjacent first slab-shaped parts 616 respectively include a fixing part616 a. The two fixing parts 616 a can be fixed together through multiplemethods.

In the embodiment, the two fixing parts 616 a include a magneticfunction. The fixing parts 616 a are magnetically fixed to each otherwhen leaned together. However, the method of fixing the two fixing parts616 a is not limited thereto. In addition, in the embodiment, at leastone perpendicular bisector of the supporting unit 610 passes through theconvergent part 614.

An end of each of the second separations 618 is connected to each other,and two second separations 618 partition two adjacent first slab-shapedparts 617.

In the embodiment, the shape of the supporting unit 610 is a rectangle.The shapes of the pair of fixing parts 616 a are similar triangles. Thefirst extension element 650 is movably fixed to the second extensionelement 660, so as to assure that the portable electronic device 10 islocated in the foldable cover.

The first extension element 650 comprises a third slab-shaped part 652,and the second extension element 660 comprises a fourth slab-shaped part662. In the embodiment, the third slab-shaped part 652 and the fourthslab-shaped part 662 are magnetic elements.

FIG. 6C is a three dimensional schematic view of the foldable cover ofFIG. 6A that is folded. When using the foldable cover 600 of theembodiment to support the portable electronic device 10, as seen in FIG.6C, bending the first separation 612 between the two fixing parts 616 acauses the two fixing parts 616 a to lean together.

FIG. 6D to FIG. 6F are three dimensional schematic views of the foldablecover of FIG. 6A deforming to support the portable electronic device.When using the foldable cover 600 of the embodiment to support theportable electronic device 10, by leaning together and fixing the fixingparts 616 a, the supporting unit 610 and the fixing unit 620 deform toform a three dimensional structure. As seen in FIG. 6D to FIG. 6F, theuser can place the portable electronic device 10 on any side of thethree dimensional structure, so that the portable electronic device canbe erected at different directions and angles.

FIG. 7A is a top view illustrating a foldable cover according to aseventh embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 7B is a three dimensionalschematic view of a supporting unit of the FIG. 7A that is folded anddeformed. Referring to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the supporting unit 710comprises a plurality of first separations 712, a plurality ofconvergent parts 714, and a plurality of first slab-shaped parts 716. Inthe embodiment, the amount of the convergent parts 714 is two. However,the amount of the convergent parts 714 is not limited thereto.

Each of the first separations 712 is connected to one of the twoconvergent parts 714, and each of the first separations 712 canpartition two adjacent first slab-shaped parts 716. The two sets ofadjacent first slab-shaped parts 716 respectively include a pair offixing parts 716 a. When using the supporting unit 710 to support theportable electronic device 10, respectively bending the two firstseparations 712 between the pair of fixing parts 716 a causes the twofixing parts 716 a to lean and be fixed together. This way thesupporting unit 710 is erected (as shown in FIG. 7B), so as to supportthe portable electronic device 10.

To sum up, the foldable cover of the disclosure not only covers theportable electronic device, but can also conveniently deform to turninto a support frame and support the portable electronic device. Inaddition, the foldable cover of the disclosure can be placed in multipledirections so as to provide multiple angles to support the portableelectronic device. Thus, the foldable cover of the disclosure comprisesadvantages of simple operation, unique forms, multiple functions, andthe weight and volume of portable objects to decreasing the user'sloading.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the aboveembodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the artthat modifications to the described embodiment may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the abovedetailed descriptions.

1. A foldable cover, adapted for a portable electronic device, thefoldable cover comprising: a supporting unit, including a plurality offirst separations, a convergent part, and a plurality of firstslab-shaped parts, wherein each of the first separations is connected tothe convergent part; and a fixing unit, connected to the supporting unitto fix the portable electronic device; wherein, when the firstslab-shaped parts are disposed on the same surface, the supporting unitcovers the portable electronic device; and when a three dimensionalstructure is formed by the first separations, the convergent part, andthe first slab-shaped parts, the supporting unit supports the portableelectronic device.
 2. The foldable cover as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe three dimensional structure is a pyramid.
 3. The foldable cover asclaimed in claim 1, wherein two adjacent slab-shaped parts respectivelyinclude a fixing part.
 4. The foldable cover as claimed in claim 3,wherein the fixing parts are magnetic elements.
 5. The foldable cover asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting unit further comprises aplurality of second separations, and each of the second separationspartitions a plurality of second slab-shaped parts.
 6. The foldablecover as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection member, soas to connect the supporting unit and the fixing unit.
 7. The foldablecover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing unit is a first lockingassembly, the portable electronic device comprises a second lockingassembly, and the first locking assembly is adapted to lock to thesecond locking assembly.
 8. The foldable cover as claimed in claim 7,wherein the first locking assembly comprises a first through hole, andthe portable electronic device comprises a transmission interface, whenthe foldable cover is connected to the portable electronic device, aposition of the first through hole corresponds to a position of thetransmission interface.
 9. The foldable cover as claimed in claim 1,wherein the supporting unit and the fixing unit form a cover body, whenthe foldable cover protects the portable electronic device, the portableelectronic device is located between the supporting unit and the fixingunit.
 10. The foldable cover as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:a first extension element, connected to one of the fixing unit and thesupporting unit; and a second connection member, connected to the fixingunit or the supporting unit that is not connected to the first extensionelement, wherein the first extension element is movably fixed to thesecond extension element so that the portable electronic device isrestricted between the supporting unit and the fixing unit.